Matthew 1-3
-Jesus is the descendant of Abraham and David. Jesus is a Jew. He is in the line of Judah, therefore He is in the line of the kings of Israel.
It is interesting that there are 4 women mentioned in Jesus' genealogy. Tamar (really awkward and weird story), Rahab (a prostitute and Gentile), Ruth (another Gentile), and Mary.
-Mary became with child "through the Holy Spirit." I am currently reading a book about the Holy Spirit and I don't think it has mentioned yet that the Holy Spirit has the ability to impregnate.
It makes me think... how often do we take credit for the Holy Spirit working?
- Jesus means "the LORD saves." It is the Greek name that is the same as the Hebrew name, Joshua. If we look at the lives of Joshua and Jesus, what comparisons do we see?
Joshua led people into the Promised Land... Jesus leads people into salvation. Joshua was a great warrior... Jesus wins in the end.
Once again, the Old Testament gives us a glimpse of the New Testament.
- Jesus is also called Immanuel. Did Mary and Joseph really understand what it meant that they were having a Son who is God? They weren't just having a baby who is the Messiah, but is God in human form.
Why do we only use the name Immanuel at Christmas time?
- The Magi knew that "the King of the Jews" was born. Where did they get this understanding? And how come the Jews did not know this?
- I read the story of Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to Egypt to avoid Herod's punishment. Do we just naturally think that Mary was like "okay, whatever you say?"
If I tried to tell Keyla that we had to move to Mexico and go into hiding, and our parents didn't hear from us or ever see our child, I don't think that would go over smoothly.
I think so often we read the Bible and assume that everyone has a "blind faith." They are almost robotic and just characters in a story. We tend to forget that these are real people, with real emotions, and real lives.
And sometimes, God "screws up" their plans.
- John the Baptist has an interesting life. He has a life that not many Christians would want. His ministry is to go around preaching repentance and baptizing those who listen.
Repentance is something that is almost never preached in America. Most churches don't want to preach that you are going the wrong direction... just that you are a little off course.
John the Baptist (and eventually Jesus) teaches that there are only 2 options. God and self. If you aren't living for God, you need to repent (turn around).
And if you honestly think about it, what were we made to do? Live in a perfect relationship with God forever.
John the Baptist was only telling people to do what will fulfill them the most. He is only telling them to live life like it was meant to be lived. He was trying to help.
We have made repentance into such a negative word, when it is only a reminder (a begging... an urge) to run back to God.
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